Alexandra began her musical training in Launceston, before moving to Sydney to complete a Bachelor of Music Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying with Professor Christopher Kimber. During her time in Sydney, she performed with various ensembles in Sydney and in the Central Coast of New South Wales, including the Central Coast Symphony Orchestra, Concertante ensemble and the Con Spirito String Quartet. Alexandra also enjoys playing a variety of styles of music and has performed with Judy Baily's Jazz ensemble, in the Australian tour of the musical "War of the Worlds" as well as playing in the Irish Band "Sult" who performed regularly in the Rocks in Sydney. Since returning to Tasmania, she has become a member of the Tasmanian Discovery Orchestra, the Camerata Obscura Ensemble, Bon Accorde Ensemble, the Tobias Trio and performs with the Launceston Philharmonic orchestra and local musical productions.

Alexandra has a passion for teaching and has tutored the violin at various schools and institutions in Sydney, including Abbotsleigh Ladies College, the McDonald Performing Arts College and the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music. It was this interest in teaching that led her to complete a Masters Degree from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, majoring in Violin Pedagogy (teaching). As part of this study, she completed a research project on the effect of movement in violin playing and was fortunate to be granted the Dorothy N Glover music scholarship which allowed her to study with the Institute for Jacques Dalcroze in America. Alexandra currently tutors the violin privately and at Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston and the 2015 Northern String Academy will enable her students to participate in group classes which will complement their individual tuition. Students will receive additional instruction by wonderful teachers like Clare Corban-Banks and visiting tutors in theory, rhythmic movement, scales and solfege, as well as receiving the opportunity to participate in Master Classes and chamber music.

Alexandra's enjoyment of music has largely been a result of her passion for learning and she continually seeks ways to improve her knowledge in what she believes is a life-long process. In her teaching she endeavors to inspire her students by ensuring that they find the material stimulating and enjoyable and finding ways that it can be creatively presented. She also strives to find a number of alternatives when presenting material to allow space for pupil-directed learning. In this way she aims to develop a didactic teaching approach tailored to each student. Parental support is also essential in assisting with practice and providing encouragement so that students can reach their full potential.

Northern Tasmanian String Academy
Strings on the Move Program

“The NTSA Strings on the Move program introduces children to bowed stringed instruments in a holistic environment of movement, theory and technique, resulting in a joyful appreciation of music”.

The Strings on the Move primary school program is targeted at primary aged students who are interested and committed to learning a stringed instrument. Lessons are provided individually or in pairs.

Strings on the Move Introductory Classes

Strings on the Move teachers are also offering an introduction to strings package to a select number of local primary schools. Our teachers will visit the school over the course of six weeks. A half-hour class will be delivered to all students in a selected year group and the course will incorporate movement-based instruction and Poly-model (or Krystal violins!). These self-crafted instruments allow students to learn bowing technique and posture and apply that knowledge to preparatory instruments. Self-crafted instruments or paper violins have been used by the very successful El Sistema project in Venezuela (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxcLk4uJaIk) and adopted in many other parts of the world (http://learner.org/workshops/k5music/violin-basics/additional-video.html#jammconcert).

PowerPoint slides and recordings accompany our course that is also designed to comply with the requirements of the Australian curriculum.

Strings on the Move Saturday Workshops and Chamber Music

Strings on the Move chamber music classes will also be provided this year at a mutually convenient location and time for each group. For four weeks in term four, the Saturday workshops will resume for one hour between 3:00 and 4:00pm.These workshops will again be held at Launceston Church Grammar in Button St, Mowbray and will lead to a Primary school tour and End of Year Concert. The proposed dates for the workshops and concerts are listed below.

S T U D E N T W O R K S H O P S E R I E S

2 0 1 7

October 21

October 28

November 4

November 11

November 17 – Tour

November 18 - Concert

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Please email expressions of interest to

NTSA2015@yahoo.

Our Teachers

Alexandra Harris and Clare Corban - Banks

Please follow the link to contact us or registration to enquire about violin lessons, read about our teachers or to enquire about the primary school string program.)